Absolutely Athens Award

Absolutely Athens!

The Absolutely Athens Award celebrates frontline staff that make Athens as wonderful and unique as it is.

Who can be nominated?

Any frontline staff member that has a direct positive impact on visitors. Examples include servers, front desk staff, bar staff, sales associates and technicians. The nominee should be someone who rolls out the welcome mat for visitors and goes above and beyond to interact with guests. Someone who shows visitors the true spirit of Athens.

The Winners!

Ryan Moore, Athens Sport Cycles

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to present the Absolutely Athens Award to Ryan Moore at Athens Sport Cycles!

Ryan has been instrumental in providing excellent service at Athens Sports Cycles to visitors riding Ohio’s Windy 9. He is always wiling to help, has worked on visitor’s bikes, and has been an important contact for Windy 9 riders and our office. Thank you for being such a great supporter of Ohio’s Windy 9 and being such an excellent resource for our visitors. Congratulations, Ryan! You are Absolutely Athens.

Brooke Ely, Miller’s Chicken

Brooke Ely, an employee at Miller’s Chicken in Athens, Ohio, receives the Absolutely Athens Award from the ACCVB

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to present the Absolutely Athens Award to Brooke Ely at Miller’s Chicken!

Brooke was nominated by popular demand! After she was featured during our Diner Day Wednesday at Miller’s, comments about her flooded in. It was clear to us that she is everything Absolutely Athens! Below are some of what people had to say.

“Brooke is amazing! As is Miller’s! Great place with great people.”

“Brooke! Love her and she is a very good person!”

“Look it’s Brooke she is the best!”

“Broke has such a beautiful welcoming smile!”

“She is the friendliest person ever!”

“Brookie Cookie! Love you girl!”

Congratulations, Brooke! You are, without a single doubt, Absolutely Athens!!

Jessica Adami, Jackie O’s

The Absolutely Athens Award winner for March 2019 is Jessica Adami, an employee at Jackie O’s Public House. Pictured here with Public House Manager A.J. Castro.

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to present the Absolutely Athens Award to Jessica Adami of Jackie O’s Public House!

Below is the nomination letter we received. Thank you, Jess, for being what makes Athens a great community and destination for our visitors. You are Absolutely Athens!

Jessica is one of the most kind-hearted and friendly bartenders you could ask for. She fosters genuine connections through the cheerful conversations she holds with customers, and is able to cater to all different types of people – from Athens locals to visiting Ohio University parents to traveling beer nerds.

Having worked at Jackie O’s for over eight years, she is knowledgeable not only about everything related to Jackie O’s, but also about the Athens’ community and the many wonderful people within it.

Jess is truly a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Athens would not be the warm & welcoming place it is without Jess and her kind smile! If you see her behind the bar, ask her about the love of her life, her sweet pup, Spud, and she will enthusiastically tell you all about the cute and hilarious adventures they share!

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau presents the Absolutely Athens Award to Jessica Adami, an employee at Jackie O’s Public House.

Connie Llewelyn, Hampton Inn of Athens

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau presents the Absolutely Athens Award to Connie Llewelyn, a breakfast server at Hampton Inn in Athens,

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to present the Absolutely Athens Award to Connie Llewellyn of Hampton Inn of Athens.

Below is the nomination letter we received. Thank you, Connie for being what makes Athens a great community and destination for our visitors. You are Absolutely Athens!

Connie is amazing. I walk in the door and watch her with the guests and she is glowing. She greets all of our guests with a smile and great conversation. Connie is the most genuine Breakfast Hostess, she will brighten your day. I know she does mine. The moment she was hired our whole breakfast vibe changed from hum drum to bright, bubbly and poppin. Connie volunteers her time to help out with any of the charities we that we are working on every month, she really loves helping the community. As Connie received her award a guest made sure to mention, after his breakfast experience, he agrees with all of this!

Grace Corbin, Casa Nueva

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to present the Absolutely Athens Award to Grace Corbin of Casa Nueva!

Below is the nomination we received from Casa founder Leslie Schaller. Grace has been with Casa form 9 years and has made dining guests feel like family for just as long. Grace, without a doubt, is ABSOLUTELY ATHENS!

Grace is Casa’s marketing coordinator. She oversees all the advertising, in-house promotions and social media platforms. Grace is very active within the larger network of food and beverage businesses in the Athens area. She makes sure that the Casa Nueva worker-owners are up to date on the tourism calendar of events each year and how Casa can contribute to the flavor of Athens through the arts, music, heritage and our unique food economy. She always connected, cheerful and professional. She is a great emissary of our community, not just Casa and represents our sector through public presentations and event activities.

Presenting the Absolutely Athens Award to Grace Corbin. Shown are staff (and kiddo!) of the ACCVB and of Casa Nueva.

Vicki Kantner, Athens Community Center

Vicki Kantner of the Athens Community Center receives the Absolutely Athens Award on December 3, 2018.

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to present the Absolutely Athens Award to Vicki Kantner of The Athens Community Center!

Below is the nomination letter we received. Thank you, Vicki for being what makes Athens a great community and destination for our visitors. You are Absolutely Athens!

When you imagine the kind of person that is Absolutely Athens you might think of someone who is friendly, eager to help, kind, and caring. Vicki embodies all of these things and more. She is an Athens native and her community roots run deep. She is also a fiercely prOUd Bobcat and attends all home basketball games with her family. Vicki is the best! She is loved by everyone and is one of the most deserving people for this award!

Staff of the Athens Community Center, The ACCVB, and Vicki’s family celebrate her deserving win.

Wesley Kuck, Courtside Pizza

Wesley Kuck, of Courtside Pizza, receiving the Absolutely Athens Award from the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau on October 31, 2018.

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to present the Absolutely Athens Award to Wesley Kuck of Courtside Pizza.

Below is the nomination letter we received. Thank you Wesley for being what makes Athens a great community and destination for our visitors. You are Absolutely Athens!

Wesley is the general manager of Courtside Pizza and has been working there before anyone can remember. Although Wesley isn’t a native Athenian, he sure acts like one! He meets every customer with a smile and goes above and beyond to make each customer feel at home! He is extremely friendly; rumor has it he is not only an animal whisperer but also a baby whisperer! You will find no other Athenian like Wesley! He is a true Athens treasure!

Marah Williams, Fairfield Inn & Suites of Athens

Marah Williams of The Fairfield Inn & Suites of Athens receiving the first-ever Absolutely Athens Award from the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau at their hotel property in Athens, Ohio on September 28, 2018.

The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to present the FIRST EVER Absolutely Athens Award to Marah Williams from The Fairfield Inn & Suites.

Below is the nomination letter we received. Thank you Marah for being what makes Athens a great community and destination for our visitors. You are Absolutely Athens!

“Marah is the best parts of Athens wrapped into one! Her contagious smile and outgoing personality brings so much to our hotel and community . She goes out of her away to make our guests feel welcomed not only to the hotel, but to Athens! Guest will ask for her by name. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Athens and loves to spread Athens cheer! She wears many different hats at out hotel; you can find her in the back office working on her Guest Service Manager tasks, working the front desk, helping with breakfast, laundry and even driving the shuttle! She is also involved in our monthly charities events. She cares deeply about our community and guests. Marah is Peace, Love, Athens!”